hey all im building up a 383 stroker for my 86 Z but im sticking with the TPI stuff.... i went with basically a whole package from TPIS utilizing there mini ram, + other parts, as well as a custom burned chip.... my question to you is what can be done to boost my ignition system I.E. like an MSD box or a performance distributor... what will work for my application, what have you had luck with... lemme know thanks!!!

 

You can run an msd box for sure. Nothing wrong with a little insurance you get from the 6AL box. (rev limiter) I'm running the msd 8.5 wires as well as the blaster coil. Fixing to buy a distributer off a company called whiteperformance on ebay. You should check them out they have a lot of VERY cheep high-po stuff.....

 

On a N/A application that's going to live below 6500 I haven't found the need to upgrade much in the ignition system. The stock coil is the part I've found to be the weakest link (assuming all other parts are in good condition). The stock coil packs a good wollop as far as spark energy, but it recharges too slowly. One of the reasons HEI systems "fall off" at higher RPMs- the coil can't reach full charge (saturation) as the time between firings gets shorter and shorter. A better coil designed for quicker recharge (MSD HEI replacement is my go-to) fixes most of these stock limitations just fine. It won't make any more energy or "higher voltage" than stock (the near-maningless stuff they hype in the ads) but it will carry that energy much higher in the RPM range without the "drop off" the stock coil experiences.

Certainly a full ignition box setup isn't going to hurt anything and they do have some nice features like a rev limiter, but don't expect it to make any more power for you. And, of course, it costs money and it's one more thing that can break.

A boosted or sprayed combo can change that equation. However, I'll note that I run an earlier non-computer controlled HEI with MSD module and coil on my mild supercharged 383. I used to have a 6-series box on it, but when that crapped out I threw on the modle and coil "just to get it up and running." Turns out it runs better without it! The box is never going back on again.